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Love.
It is the perfect way to say goodbye.
Chapter twenty-four
Tommy
Iknow I'm losing her. The realization hits me like a crotch-aimed bowling ball the second I catch the look in her eyes after we've made love. She's going to leave me, and the pain this decision causes her is unbearable for me to witness. Whatever plan she's concocting, I'm set on being a part of it, whether she believes it endangers me or not. My mother will understand. I need to talk to her first, then I can follow Tilly to wherever she's headed. Paris, Australia, South America. I really don't care. I'm going too.
Tilly drifts off to sleep, though it’s only lunchtime. She probably needed to escape to the land of dreams where her family isn’t a mob of pyromaniac-loving narcissists. The emotional toll of the day has been tough, and I know she needs at least a quick nap. So I carefully tuck the blanket around her before sneaking out of bed. I throw on my shorts and T-shirt from earlier, feeling a little like a frat boy at a toga party. Typically, I like a little post-coital cuddle. I’m not the kind of guy that can dip into a woman then dip out of her life. But right now, I need to get prepared. With my wrinkled clothes on, I leave the guest room.
We've only been gone for maybe a half hour, but it's clear we were missed. My mother paces the living room, and to my surprise, Miranda is back.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, not exactly thrilled that part of the problem is sitting in my mother’s living room.
“As soon as I heard, I came back. You might think I'm a monster, but I hate this as much as you do." I want to insist Miranda leaves, but my mother has that look on her face, the one that says ‘don’t fuck with me,’ so I let it go.
“Fine, but if you upset Tilly, so help me…” I can see that my words don’t have their intended effect. Miranda looks no more concerned about my threat than if an ant was on her arm.
"And where is Tilly?" Mom asks.
"Sleeping. She was pretty exhausted," I say.
Miranda scoffs and rolls her eyes. "Yeah, I'll bet. You two aren't exactly quiet. And who fucks after a fire? God, she's a horndog." Ignoring the comment, I take a seat. As soon as I do, Miranda is staring at me. "Where are you two going to go?” I do like that she assumes we’re going to run away. It makes my plan seem less crazy.
"Down to San Diego first. I know she probably wants to grab some stuff from her apartment.”
"That’s good. I’d give it a few hours before Tia sends someone after you two. The faster you leave, the better." Miranda taps her chin and turns to the mountain of a man that’s been brooding on the edge of the couch. “And you’re positive that you can handle things here?” The way she says things, I know she means her deplorable cousins.
Mack’s face brightens a bit, a smirk crossing his stern features. “Yeah, I think I got it.” There’s not an ounce of anything but confidence in his tone. I realize now that the grin on his lips is at the idea of chaos to come. Something about that sits well with me. He’s got a handle on protecting my mom while Tilly and I leave. That’s the final nail in the coffin for my plan. I’m going. Wherever Tilly needs me, I’m fucking there.
Watching my mother, I'm in awe. "How are you this... calm? Did the firemen slip you some ‘keep calm and carry on’ pills?"
She tosses her hair over her shoulder with a chuckle. Hate to admit it, but my mom is kind of a badass. Someone tried to torch her home and she’s barely frowned. No, with my mom, she’s all about action. "Tommy, I'm all for this. I like watching you play the knight in shining armor."
"I'm not doing anything, Ma. You and Miranda are handling it all."
"Nonsense, baby. You're supporting her. That's more than anyone else in the world can do right now."
That might be true, but for the most part, I’m still feeling guilt. “Ma, at least let me pay to fix the house.”
She chuckles and pats my back in a tender gesture. “Nonsense, I have insurance, baby."
But Miranda leans closer to me and stage-whispers in my ear. “I already called a contractor. It's taken care of.” Slapping her thighs, she stands up. "Okay, I better get back. Grayson is covering for me, but it won't last long." She waves her hand like showing appreciation or love is literally an unwanted distraction. “Go wake Tilly so you can get the fuck out of here."
My mom purses her lips at the swearing but doesn’t smack Miranda like she would if I deigned to say one of the forbidden words. Instead of calling attention to it, I make my way through the house toward the guestroom where I left Tilly.
The hall feels chilly, a coldness that intensifies as I approach the guest room. It feels all off. Like a sixth sense, I know something is very wrong. My heart pounds as I reach for the knob, only to find it locked. Panicked, I sprint to the kitchen for the small key from the junk drawer and rush back, hands trembling as I unlock the door.
The moment I fling it open, I understand the source of the chill. The window’s wide open, and Tilly’s pulled a Houdini. My girlfriend has vanished, taking my heart and soul with her.
Chapter twenty-five
Tilly
I'm lucky Tommy left his keys in our room. Within twenty minutes, I've driven his car to the resort, left the keys with the front desk, and then slipped into my own rental. Spy movie theme music runs through my head, but even my brain’s attempt at a joke is lame. There’s no joy in what I’m doing, but there is relief. So many times in the past, I’ve done the same thing. Flee. Run. Move on. Don’t look back. All things I’ve had to do before. But this time is different.
I’ve left a piece of me behind. More than one, if I’m honest. Because I’m not just shutting out the man I love, but my surrogate sister. My pregnant surrogate sister. All the hopes I had of being the best auntie ever have gone up in smoke, much like Henrietta’s garage. Maybe it’s cheesy, but I was really looking forward to helping her baby piss her off. Really, I don’t even know how I would do that, but I was ready for it.
